Piccolo shelves CFS reforms

Mr Piccolo revealed late Friday night that he had backed down on the highly criticised proposed reforms.

"Following feedback from the sector, I realised that the structural reform was a barrier to achieving the object of the reform, which is for a closer collaboration between the services and efficiencies reinvested in front-line services," he said.

"Accordingly, the proposed structural reforms will be put aside and only reconsidered if called for through the consultation process involving the 13 working groups that have been established.

"There are many opportunities where increased collaboration between emergency services can lead to a better service to the community and more resources for our personnel.

"This will be the role of the working groups, which will inform the longer-term structural and organisational changes that are required."

CFS Volunteers Association executive director Sonia St Alban said Mr Piccolo's announcement did not mean the end of sector reform, but a change in direction.

"However it does not rule out the appointment of a commissioner nor structural changes in the future, but at least allows the working groups time to provide their input before any changes are implemented," she said.

Yorke Valley CFS group officer and Region Two Volunteer Management Committee representative Andrew Cadd said it was a significant step in the right direction but there was a lot of work to do yet.

"We need people with the right knowledge and skills to nominate for the working groups and across-the-board representation," he said.

"There is some breathing space for the proper process to occur, as it should have from the start."

SES Volunteers Association executive director Susan Caracoussis said they were cautious about the announcement and hoped to meet with Mr Piccolo to discuss it.

"The reforms are not over, the 13 working groups are being kept," she said.

"We would like to clarify the purpose of the working groups and establish some guidelines on the outcomes required for the benefit of the whole sector."

Opposition spokesman Duncan McFetridge said Mr Piccolo had made a "tactical retreat".

"So far he has just created chaos," he said.

"He needs to come clean and tell us what he is trying to achieve with the working groups."

Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire met with Mr Piccolo on two occasions in the past three weeks to discuss possible ways forward.

"I am happy Mr Piccolo has been willing to change the way he was heading with the reform process," he said.

"I will be watching what happens and working closely with volunteer associations to make sure the government follows through on its promises."

The Select Committee Inquiry into the sector reforms, chaired by Mr Brokenshire, met yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss how it will proceed, and to hear further evidence.